Terrace-marker.



W. C. NORRIS TERRACE MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1B, 1916.

mmm 6.0 menm Jan. 15, 1918.

, LLIAM C. NORRIS, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, TEXAS.

TERRACE-MARKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dam. 1L5, rare.

Application filed March 18, 1916. Serial No. 85,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. Norms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Pleasant, in the county of Titus and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Terrace-Markers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object to provide improved means for quickly and conveniently marking or laying out and leveling terraces which shall be light and consequently easily portable, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a sectional view through a hillside, illustrating the invention applied to use,

Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the marker and level,

Fig. 3 represents a detail sectional view, partly broken away, illustrating the man ner of connecting the upper and connecting members of the frame.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals 5 and 6 designate the relatively long and shortbase and top rails, respectively. The top rail 6 is supported in spaced parallel relation above the base rail 5 by the connecting members 9, having recesses 7 and 8 in the upper and lower ends thereof receiving the top and base rails, respectively, which latter are secured in position in the recesses by bolts or equivalent fastening means 8 The base between the upper edge of the top rail 6 and the base rail 5 is equal to the desired drop from one ledge or terrace to the other, as will be more denies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fully described hereinafter. A preferred type of spirit level 10 is set in the recess formed centrally of the upper edge of the top rail 6. A target or standard, designated by the numeral 11, is adapted for use in corn nection with the marker and level and is approximately twice the height of the latter.

In use the marker is positioned horizontally with the assistance of the level 10 upon the side of a hill, as suggested in Fig. 1, and the target 11 is so positioned at a point on the hillside below the marker, that the upper end of the target is disposed in hori zontal line with the top rail of the marker when sighted along the upper longitudinal edge of the latter. The portion of the hillside lying between the target and the end of the marker opposite the target is leveled by a plow or other implement, thereby producing a terrace. The top surface of the terrace is then leveled longitudinally and transversely with the assistance of the spirit level 10 by placing the base rail 5 in various positions therein during the leveling opera tion. This operation is repeated until the entire hillside has been terraced and thus a plurality of terraces having a uniform drop is produced. The top rail 6 constitutes an eflicient handle, whereby the marker may be conveniently adjusted and transported from place to place.

What is claimed is:

A marker including a relatively short top rail having a straight top edge for sighting a target, a relatively long bottom or supporting rail arranged in spaced relation to the top rail, connecting members connecting the opposite end portions of the top and base rails, said top rail constituting a handle for adjusting and conveying the marker, and a spirit level set into the top rail flush with the straight top edge of the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. NORRIS.

Witnesses:

E. Wrrrrarrs, W. H. Saar. W

Gommissioner at Patents,

Washington, D. t. 

